Automatic air-brake and steam coupling.



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I PATENTBD JUNE 19, 1906. 0. E. LBIB & B. B. WITTE. v V AUTOMATIC AIRBRAKE AND STEAM COUPLING.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 11,1905.

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APPLIOATION FILED AUG.11, 1905.

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ATTORNEYS N0. 824,034. PATENTED JUNE 19, 1906.

' 0. E. LEIB & E. B. WITTB.

AUTOMATIC AIR BRAKE AND STEAM COUPLING.

APPLICATION TILED AUG.11,1906.

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VK/T/VESSES: INKENTORS Q OZz'rerELe' a5 I r g 'uyelagfi Jrromvers fromthe air-brake system in an uncoupled? car, only allowing'enough toescape to set the UNITED sTA rEs PATENT OFFICE.-

OLIVER E. LEIB AND EUGENE B. WITTE, or TRENTON, NEW JERSEY;

AUTOMATIC AIR-BRAKE AND STEAM COUPLING.

7 Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed August 11, I905. Serial No, 273,794..

Patented June 19, 1906.

States, and residents of Trenton, in [the county of Mercer and State ofNew Jersey, have invented a new andImprovedAu'tomatic Air-Brake andSteam Coupling, of

which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

placin the flexible couplings now employed on airrake systems between,adjace it cars. The principal objects-of theinvention areto providemeans for effectively inaking an air-.-

tight joint between two air -brake-system cars when the latter arecoupledtogether and for automatically allowing an escape of air fromeach car when the cars are uncoupled or when one is released from theother; furthermore, to prevent the escape of all the air brakes, and -toapply the device to both freight and passenger cars.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming apart ofthis specification, in WhlGll similar characters of reference 11 forreceiving trunnions 12Iu on a cylinder fromthe system to the cylinder13' and also 13. This cylinder is connecte by means of a coupler 14,with a flexible connection 15, and each in turn is connected with theairbrake system of the car through a couplin 16. This flexibleconnection is provide with an interior coiled spring 17 and an exteriorspring 18 of the same character. The function of this connection is toconduct air to keep the cylinder in alinement with the axis of the car.The two springs 17 and 18 are sufficiently strong to swing the cylinderupon the trunmons and hold it in a straight position under ordinaryconditions; but obviously'they will yield to permit the car to passaround curves; 7

The c linder 13 is provided with an extension -19, aving a valve-seat20. For engag "ing this valve-seat a valve 21 is provided.

This valve has a passage 22,0pening into the conical surface of thevalve, which seats upon the seat 20, and the passage is connected withthe interior of a tube 23, upon which the valve is mounted. This-tube isprovided with a disk 24, having a soft-rubber or other sheet of flexiblematerial25 upon its face. It is I I provided with circular bars 26,secured to the Our invention relates to' a device for redisk by meansofscrews or many other suitable manner, these bars being concentric andserving to hold the soft-rubber or otherflexi- 'ble material inposition. The'passage through thecenter ofthe tube opens in the centerof the interiorof the disk, and, as the drawings show, it is intendedthat twoof these cups shall come togetherandform an air-tight jointbetween twocars. .Whenthe cars are coupled 1 togiath'er, these 7 twocups will press against eac' other and force their respective valves '21from the valve-seats 20, and consequently permit a communication of airbetween two cars.

The tube 23 is provided with a stuffingbox 28 to permit the recirocating motion which it has and prevent .lihepassageofa'ir around it.In order to provide a motive power for closing the valve 21 whenpressure is removed from the cup 24, a collar 29 is screwed to the tube23, and a spring'30 is mounted between this collarand the stuflingbox.

The extension v19 is provided with a pairof ears 31, having tubes 32secured thereto, and in each of these tubes-is a spring 33, acting upona piston 34. These pistons 34 are connected by a oke 35, having apassage 36 for receivingan guiding the tube 23. The spring 30 offers acertain amount of resistance to the opening of the valve, and thesprings 33 afunder such extraordinary shocks as those incurred incoupling cars.

From the parts so far described it will be readily understood that theair communication is kept up through the cou ler while the cars arecoupled together and t e springs 30 compressed by the coupling devicesbymeans of which the cars are connected, also that when a car is uncoupledfrom anothehand the consequent pressure of one cup 24 against the otheris removed the spring 30 will op" crate to close the valve, and thusstop communication betweenthe car and the outside air at this point.

It is necessary in the modern air-brake syst'm to provide means forpermitting air to be dischargedfrom the system on the car when itisdisconnected, so as to automatically ap ply the brakes. Foraccomplishing this purpose we provide the following mechanism: Thecylinder or its extension is provided with a casing 37, having avalve-seat 38 for avalve 39. This valve is provided with a stem 40,which is guided by a projection 41 on a cap 42, with which the casing isprovided. A. spring 43 is located at the end of the stem 40 to normallyforce the valve 39 into a position upon the seat 38 to prevent thepassage of air through the casing. The strength of this spring issuiiiciently low to'permit the normal air-pressure in the train toovercome it in order that the air-pressure may be automatically reducedby the desired amount; but to prevent the loss of all the pressure inthe car the strength of this spring is made within five or ten pounds ofthe air-pressure. A

- plug 44 is provided for adjusting the spring and for removing thepressure upon the valve, so as to allow the air to escape when desired.The cap 42 is provided with openings 45 for permitting the air to escapewhen the valve is unseated.

In order to provide for automatically opening the valve 39 when thevalve 21 is closed and for keeping this valve closed under otherconditions, the stem is provided with a pivoted catch 46, normallyressed by a spring 47 into engagement with a stationary lug 48 upon thecasing. It will be observed that when the valve is once forced to itsseat the catch 46 will engage the lug 48 and will be held in closedposition thereby. A spring 49 is mounted upon the casing and engages apivoted lever 50. This lever projects into the path of the valve 21, sothat when the latter is closed it will engage it and cause it to engagethe catch 46, so as to force the latter out of engagement with the lug48. The pressure of air in the casing being great enough to overcome theforce of the sprin 43, the valve 39 will be immediately unseate and airwill be allowed to escape; but when the pressure reaches such a pointthat the spring 43 can overcome it the latter will cause the valve to beseated again, and the catch 46 will again engage the lug 48, so as tohold the arts in the position shown. This rovides or the automatic aplication of the rake in case of the accidenta parting of the train andfor the conservation of as much air I in the car system as can beprovided for.

The parts so far described are such as are re uired when the device isto be applied to freight-cars. hen, however, it is to be applied to apassenger-car system, we use additional elements, which are illustratedin the drawings, in connection with the parts de scribed above, butwhich will be omitt ed when the system is to be applied to freightcarsonly. The parts which are added for use in passenger-cars are a cylinder13, placed adjacent/to the air-brake cylinder 13 and to be used for theair signal system, and a cylinder 13", laced, preferably, below theother two cylinr ers and used for steam. The air signal-cylinder 13 isprovided with a casing 37, similar to the casing 37, and other elementscorresponding to those within the casing 37 and the cap 4'2. As theseparts on the air signal system are not shown in section, the only oneswhich. appear are a cap 4'3 and a screw 44. It will be understood thatthese parts work in the same manner as those in. the device describedabove.

Having thus described our invention, we claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent- 1. In an air-brake coupler, the combination ofa cylinder having a valveseat, a guide resiliently mounted upon thecylinder, a valve for said seat in the cylinder, said valve having apassage, a tube for supporting said valve and communicating with saidpassage, said tube engaging said guide, and a (up upon the tube havingayielding surface. for forming an air-tight joint.

2. In an air-brake coupler, the combination of a cylinder, means forpivotallv supporting it, a valve in the cylinder, a tube for supportingsaid valve, said tube commuuieating with the interior of the cylinderwhen the valve is open, a collar adjustably mounted on the tube, aspring located between the collar and the spring for forcing the tube insuch a direction as toclose the valve, and movable means for guiding thetube.

3. In an air-brake coupler, the combination of a cylinder, means forpivotally mount- IIO ing the cylinder upon a car, a tubular (-onnecti nbetween the cylinder and an air brake system upon a ear, a pair ofcoiled springs one inside of said connection and the other 11 on theoutside of the connection, for normal y holding said cylinder in acertain position upon the car, a valve in the cylinder, and means forautomatically closing the valve when the car is,separated from anadjacent car.

4. An air-brake coupler, comprising a tube, a cup thereon having ayielding surface for forming a tight joint with a companion cup,resilient means for forcing the tube longitudinally in a directiontoward the cup, and a valve on the tube having a passage to the in"terior of the tube, in combination with. a cylinder having a valve-seatfor said valve,

- overcome 1t, a stationary lug, a movable to disengage the latterfromthe liigns a e y] mmemp s ng aby indegq amoyablevalveitherein acasing con"-; nected withsaidc llindenava ve inthQRQBS- means forsupporting the tube, and means for permitting the escape of an iromthecyl. inder when the valve is forced to its seat.

inder, a valve for controlling the passage of air, therethrough, meansfor closing said valve,'and means adaptedto be engagedby the valve forpermitting" the escape of air when the valve is closed. I I

, .6. An'air-brakecoupler com rising a cylinder, a valve for controllingt e passage of air therethrough, means for closing said. valve, andmeans-adapted to be engaged by the valve for permittin the escape of airwhen the valve is close said means comprising a casing connected withsaid 0 linder and having a valve seat, a valve for said seat, means'fornormally forcing the valve-to its seat, and a lever disposed in the partof the first-mentioned valve.

7. An air-brake cou ler, comprising a'c l-' inder having a mova levalve, means or closing said valve, a lever located in osition to beenga ed biz-said valve whenc osed, a casing on t e cy der, a valve inthe casing,

and means for holdin c, said valve'inclosed positionjsaid lever beingadapted to engage I said means and render it inoperative 8. Anair-brakes stem, comprising a cylmder, a movable va ve' therein, a casingconnected with said cilinder, a valve in the' case escape of'air from,the

in for allowing t cy inder, a spring forforcing said' valve to its seat,said s ring being of such strength that 4 the norma air-pressure withinthe car. will catch connected'with the valve in the casing, and meansfordisengaging the catch from the lug when the first-mentioned valve ismoved toitsseatr 1 i j 9. An air-brake system, com rising a'casvinghaving a valve-seat, 'a'cap or the casing having passages to theopenair,- 'a valve for said seat, a valve-stem; a s for forcing, 'thevalve to,its seat an ad ustabIe plugfor' controlling the spr I acatchpivotally mounted'upon thevave-stem, 'a stationary lug, a spring forforcing the catch into engagement with the lug and a lever'pivoted onthe lug and adapts toeng'agethe catch a to disengage the latter. fromthe lug.,-. I

10. An air-brakesystern com" rising-aces in'g having'a valve-seat, a capor the casing having passagestothe-open air, a iv'alve for said seat, avalve-stem I'neans .for forcing'the valve to its seat, .an

a i' st b p g' c'a e trollin said" mensfa;catehgmm t d the .va ve-stem;a;lug,iiiieanslf es epeomt said tube engaging said guide.

cylinder, and a spring forforcing said valve to'its seat, said springbeingJof such strength I I that the normal air-pressure within the car5. An air-brake coupler comprising a cylwill overcome it. a

' 12. An air-brake coupler, comprising a'cyl-' inder, a valve forcontrolling the passage of .air therethrough, means for controlling saidvalve, and meansadapted to be engaged by the escape of air the valve forpermittingd r sa1 means comwhen the valve is close prising a casingconnectedwith said 0. linder and having a valve-seat, a valve for saidseat, and means disposed .in the -path of the firstmentioned valve foroperating saidlast-mentioned' valve.

,13. An air-brake coupler, comprisin a.

'tube,resilient means for forcing the tube ongitudinally and a valve onthe tube the tube aving a passage toits interior, in conibina-- tionwith a .cyhnder having'a valve-seat for said valve, 'means forsupporting the tube, and means'forpermitting the esca e of air from the"cylinder when the .valve is orcedto its'seat. f

'14. Anair-brake cou ler, comprisin aeyltween t inside of saidconnection and the other upon the outside thereof for normallyholding-said cylinder in a certain position upon thecar. Y

15. An air-brake cou ler, comprising a'cylfs inder, a valve in thejcyinder, a tube for sup".-

with t e interior of the cylinder when the] P valve is o ened, a collaradjustably mounted on the tu 'e, and a sprin for forcing the tube portinsaid valve, said tulie communicating in such directionas to c ose thevalve. I 16(An air-brake coupler, com risin acyl inder having avalve-seat, a gui e resi may mounted 'upon the cylinder, a valve' forsaid seat,-and' a tube for supporting I having three cylinders eachprovided'wit fa valve-seat, a guide resiliently mounted upon thecylinders, a valve in'each cylinder for the valve-seats, each of'saidvalves having .a passage, a" tubev for supplorting eachvalve. andcommunicate t the assage, said tubes enga g sa d uide, an connectionsfrom the t "ee 17; Anautomatic air-cou ler ,cylin ers for conducting airfrom -'anairbrake system, air from angtii'. signal system, andsteaminto' the'thifeecylinders respecsaid valve, 1

II I I I I whereof we have signed our I II I I I namesto thisspecification in thepresence; of catch into engagementwitliithegl 'j;;-and;

. 9 inder, means for pivota y mounting't e 'c' I l.- ,inder u on'a car,a flexible connection e4; lie cylinder and an air-brake system, uponthecar, 'and a pair of coil-springs, one i

